Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

Students enrolled in our course are encouraged to write for the course blog, and to read and comment on posts from students at other participating universities. The blog offers students the opportunity to analyze current events through the lens of the theory and case studies they engage with through the course.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

Tunisia: A Case Study of Autocratic Backsliding and the Impetus call for Democracy

Since the demand for democracy emerged during the Arab Spring across many middle eastern countries, the origin country Tunisia have been countlessly facing many challenges in their struggle against authoritarian resurgence. What factors have contributed to...

Examining Democratic Backsliding Through the Actions of ICE

The disruption and terror produced by ICE agents have spread rapidly across the United States, having devastating impacts on big cities and small towns alike. In Leominster, Massachusetts — a town with generations of families, many being of Hispanic origin — video...

How Trump is using Stealth Authority

Trump is using stealth authoritarianism in his past presidency, after losing his presidency to Biden, and in his current presidency.

Democratic Backsliding: How Trump’s Administration is Turning ICE into a Tool for Personalist Rule

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The survival of modern democracy in the United States has been witnessing the threat of democratic erosion under the current administration. Since the re-election of Donald...

Reclassifying Bureaucratic Positions: How Trump’s New Rule Threatens Democracy

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

On February 6, 2026, the Office of Personnel Management released a rule authorizing the reclassification of tens of thousands of “policy-influencing” positions within the...

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DOGE and the Mask of “Reform”: Stealth Authoritarianism in Action Once Again

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

In early 2025, President Donald Trump announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), his specialized advisory initiative led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Its stated...

Israel, A Democracy?

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

Israel is frequently described as “the only democracy in the Middle East,” yet when evaluated through the lens of democratic theory, this claim is quite absurd. Israel should not and have never been...

Enemies of Italy: How does Giorgia Meloni Threaten Democracy in Italy?

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

As tensions rise in Italy with a recent security decree and protests against the Winter Olympic Games, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni continues to reveal the potential threat she poses to...

The SAVE Act will be the Downfall of American Democracy

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The Republican Party and President Trump’s approval and promotion of the SAVE Act is a major move towards Trump’s authoritarian agenda to disrupt American democracy. What is the SAVE Act? The SAVE...

The United States is Divided…and Scared of Thy Neighbor?: Polarization is Eroding Democracy

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The Democratic and Republican parties of the US are strongly divided, with 80% of US adults saying that voters from both parties not only disagree on policy, but also on basic facts. This should...

Diminishing Democracy Under the Georgian Dream Regime

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

Since its foundation by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvilia and rise to power in 2012, the now far-right Georgian Dream party has worked to strategically erode Georgia’s already fragile democracy....

Judicial Capture and Corruption in El Salvador: How Bukele is Hollowing Out Democracy from Within

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University, Uncategorized

El Salvador is often portrayed as a rare success story in Latin America. Under President Nayib Bukele, the country has experienced a dramatic drop in homicide rates and a renewed sense of security...

Nationalizing Elections – Trump Seeks More Control Over Electoral Process

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has long decried the integrity of elections, now seeking to bring control of elections under the federal government, or at least comply with his...

Trump’s Call to Nationalize Elections: An Insult to Democracies Everywhere

Feb 13, 2026 | Boston University

In what has been a polarizing series of comments, president Donald Trump has recently gone on record expressing his strong desire to “nationalize” elections in the US. Trump has cited a list of...